The latest on California politics and government

January 31, 2013

Organizers of Gov. Jerry Brown's April trade mission to China are recruiting prospective delegates with the promise of meetings with "high ranking officials" and events to promote California to potential Chinese investors, among other activities.

The cost? A "participation fee of $10,000" to cover expenses, according to an invitation posted online and linked to on Twitter by Michael Ammann, president and CEO of the San Joaquin Partnership, an economic development group.

The invitation is a "Dear Friend" letter signed by Mike Rossi, a senior Brown adviser, and Jim Wunderman, president of the Bay Area Council, the group working with the Brown administration to open a foreign trade office for California in Shanghai.

"Delegates will visit with high ranking officials in Beijing, Shanghai, and other key cities, tour California companies and projects in China, and lead events to promote California to potential Chinese investors," says the letter dated Wednesday.

According to the letter, Brown will travel to China on April 8 for a trip lasting eight days.

"A participation fee of $10,000 covers all delegate expenses for the eight days in China including hotels, meals, translators, onsite support, and travel throughout China (excluding airfare to and from China)," the letter said.